---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Morgan, Angela
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 18
number: 7
published: 1915-05
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Angela Morgan, "Work: A Song of Triumph," *Improvement Era* 18, no. 7 (May 1915): 565.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1807unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera1807unse
start_page: 565
end_page: 565
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1915-05)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1807unse
  publication_year: 1915
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1915, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Work: A Song of Triumph

<!-- page:565 -->

Work
                A Song of Triumph

"Work!
Thank God for the might of it,
The ardor, the urge, the delight of it
Work that springs from the heart's desire.
Setting the soul and the brain on lire.
Oh, what is so good as the heat of it,
And what is so glad as the beat of it,
And what is so kind as the stern command
Challenging brain and heart and hand?

"Work!
Thank God for the pride of it,
For the beautiful conquering tide of it,
Sweeping the life in its furious flood,
Thrilling the arteries, cleansing the blood,
Mastering stupor and dull despair,
Moving the dreamer to do and dare.
Oh, what is so good as the urge of it,
And what is so glad as the surge of it,
And what is so strong as the summons deep
Rousing the torpid soul from sleep?

"Work!
Thank God for the peace of it,
For the terrible, keen, swift race of it;
Fiery steeds in full control,
Nostrils aquiver to greet the goal,
Work, the power that drives behind,
Guiding the purposes, taming the mind,
Holding the runaway wishes back,
Reining the will to one steady track,
Speeding the energies faster, faster,
Triumphing over disaster.
Oh, what is so good as the pain of it,
And what is so great as the gain of it,
And what is so kind as the cruel goad,
Forcing us on through the rugged road?

 "Work!
 Thank God for the swing of it,
 For the clamoring, hammering ring of it.
 Passion of labor daily hurled
 On the mighty anvils of the world * *
 Oh, what is so fierce as the flame of it,
 And what is so huge as the aim of it,
 Thundering on through death and doubt,
 Calling the plan of the Maker out;
 Work, the Titan; Work, the Friend,
 Shaping the earth to a glorious end;
 Drawing the swamps and blasting the hills,
 Doing whatever the spirit wills.
 Rending a continent apart
 To answer the dream of the master heart.
 Thank God for a world where none may- shirk.
 Thank God for the splendor of work!"
                                      Angela Morgan